Wire fabric and method of making the same



Dec- 3, 1940. o. c. SCHERFEL.

WIRE FABRIC AND METHOD OF 'MAKING THE SME Filed Oct, l5, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a y 125 HQI Dec. 3, 1940. o. c. scHERFl-:L

BRIC AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME WIRE FA 19158 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 aus @l Patented Dec. 3, 1940 UNITED STAT-Es PATENT OFFICE or to Audubon'Wire Cloth Corporation, Phila# delphia, Pa., afccrpcrationof.New-Jersey Y Application October 15, 1938, VSerial No. 235,138

20l Claims.

`My ,invention relates to wire fabrics `constructedof helically coiled wires interconnected or interengaged relation, and comprises improvements in that typelof wire fabric in whicha lplurality of wires of the same twist are in nested lrelation.

My improved fabric is made up of a plurality of sets of .helicallycoiled wires arranged in pairs with their ends permanently connected together,

l as .by welding, and wherein the bights of .the helices of the wires of the connected 'pairs are in alignment longitudinally of the fabric andare offset with respect to each other and/or .adjacent helices transversely of the fabric; such helices bel ing engaged by the bights of helices of the wires of Yother pairs 'arranged in the same relation. The helices of each of the respective wires are in such 'spaced'relat-ion as to receive between them the 'helices of wires of directly adjacent pairs and the result is the disposal of the -helices of the several wires in very close relationship Aand in longitudinal alignment and voffset withrespect to adjacent 'helices transversely of the fabric.

A feature of my rpresent invention 'is the vclose Z Weavingof the several helically coiled wires, which :are of the same twist; resulting in the'prcduction -o'f a fabric with very smooth surfaces 'on both faces of the same.

These and other `features of my invention are more `fully set forth hereinafter; reference being had to the accompanying drawings, more or less :diagrammatic in character, in which:

Figure '1 is a viewof a'unit pair .of wiresv of the forming the subject of `my present invention; zsnchwire's'being shown in the connected relation 4of thecompleted fabric. l 2 isa plan view of `a "section or portion of completed fabric made up of unit pairs of wires of the 4type illustrated in Fig; 1-; such view being .partly broken away. i f

Figs'. 2A, 2B and 2Care diagrammatic views illustrating sub-fabrics which are developed .in the formation of the -wi-re fabric Astructure .and which i together comprise the complete fabric forming rthe subject of my invention.

Fig. v3 is an edge View -of a .portion ofthe completed fabric;v looking in the direction of the arrow a, Fig. 2. y

Fig.4 is an edge view Yof a portion of the completed fabric; looking inthe direction of the arrow aFig. 2. y A

`Fig. 5 .is a fragmentary sectional View, taken -on the line V-V Fig. .2, and

Fig. 6 is -an-edge view of .a portion of the fabric i type employed in the construct-ion lof 'the fabric to illustrate the extreme flexibility of .the same; ,such viewindicating the curvature of the fabric when passing .over a small pulley.

My improved fabric is in the nature cfa triplex structure; that is to say, the ,helically coiled wires 5 making vup the same are in triple nested relation ina .single thickness; such wires beingof the same twist. The wires are arranged in paired relation and are subsequently .connected together,

but instead of having .the big'ht's of their helices 10 -in overlying parallel alignmentlengthwise of the wires, I .have arranged pairs of wires in offset relation with respect to eachother with the bights -O their helicesl in transverse alignment longitudinally of 4said wires and offset ,with respect `to 15 each-other `transversely of the same; each wire of each pair being interengaged by a Wire of different adjacent pairs.

The helically coiled wires comprising myimproved fabric are of the saine twist .andare as- .2p .sembled in pairs, with ,the respective wires of each pair in offset relation; .such wires being subsequently connected `together in such relation. The .relation Vof the :several wires composing the fabric is such that groups of .singly-engaged wires Iproduce whatmay 'be termed sub-fabrics, three in number in the present instance; theseveral sets lof wires making up the ,same being interconnected and so associated that their .respective helices lie :in nested relation and` close engagemen throughout. i i In Fig. 1 Il have .shown a Ypair of Wires in the connected relation they present. when embodied in the completed fabric. These wiresl lie lin the sameplane Awith their helices aligned transverse- ,x35 .ly and in offset relation; the .ends 4at the left side `of the View extending downwardly and outwardly, -wh-ile `the-ends at the right sideof the .view extend u'pwardlyand outwardly., l

vIn assembling pairs of vthese. wires, the next pair will have `an 'exactly opposite position to that of they pair .illustratediin Fig. 1; fust as vthongh'the pair .of wires so illustrated wasturned over `'so Ethat at the .left side, the ends would'extend upwardly and outward-ly, while at the right 45 side the ends wouldextend downwardly and outwardly; a rel-ation that is maintained throughout the `extent -of the fabric and is clearly illustrated .in Eig. 2. In suchl relation, it `willbe Iobserved that vthe helices of the second pair of wires-also 50 `in offset relation-nest between thef helices of the .first pair of wires; vthe helices vof `gwhat `may .be termedthe upper wire` of the .first pair, whenv considering the'gnrevof drawing, lying in lengagement withv the helicesmof the lower or sec- 55 ond wire of the second pair. All of the assembled Wires are in the same plane so that a single ply fabric results from the association of the sieveral wires. n

To clearly indicate the interconnected relation of the several wires, those making up the respective sub-fabrics'are shaded-fabric A by horizontal lines; fabric B by vertical lines, and fabric C by cross-hatching. The respective subfabrics are clearly illustrated in the diagrammatic views, Figs. 2A, 2B and 2C, wherein they are shown independently in full lines, `while the adjacentwires representing the other sub-fabrics are shown in broken lines.

Considering Fig. 2, which represents ,a fragmentary portion of a complete fabric, and the sev-v eral diagrammatic views, it will be noted that the rst pair of wires, indicated respectively at I3 and I and shown with their ends connected together, have their ends at the leftof the several views extending downwardly and outwardly and connected at while the ends of the saine wires at the right of the several views extend upwardly and outwardly, and are connected at x'.

The next pair of wires, indicated at I2 and I3, are arranged with their helices overlapping and/or nesting between the helices of the first pair, and are shown with their ends connected together; the ends at the left of the several views extending upwardly and outwardly and connected at y, while the ends of the same wires at the right of the several Views extend downwardly and outwardly, and are connected at y.

The next pair of wires, indicated at Il)a and lla, have their ends connected atx and c', and these connected ends lie in the same relation as the respective connected ends` of the wires Ill and I I.

'Ihe next pair of wires, indicated at |2a and |311, have their ends connected at y' and y', and

these connected ends lie inthe same position as the respective connected ends of the wires I2 and I3. ,v Y

The next pair of wires, indicated at |01n and Hb, are arranged in the same position and connected in the same manner as the wires I0 and I I, and the wires Il)2L and I la;

The next pair of wires, indicated at I2b and |31, are arranged in the same position and connected in the same manner as the wires I2 and I3, and the wires I2a and |321.

The six'groups of paired wires thus indicated, repeat in the same relation throughout the ex- Atent of the fabric.

The connections of the Ydownwardly and outwardly extending ends of the respective pairs of wires lie adjacent to one surface of the fabric, while the connections of the upwardly and outwardly extending ends of the respective pairs of wires lie yadjacent tothe other surface of the fabric, as indicated Vin Figs. 3 and 4.

It willbe noted, however, that the Wires of the respective pairs do not interengage with each other, nor with'directly adjacent pairs of wires; in other words, following the arrangement of the several wiresV as above indicated, it will be noted that the wire Il), Figs, 2 and 2A', interengages with the wire I3 of the second pair; that the wire I3 interengages with the wire |Ia vof the third pair; that the wire ||'a interengages with the wire |21j of the sixth pair, and that the wire |21J interengages with the wire I0 of the seventh pair, and so on; lthe diagrammatic view, Fig.l 2A, v'showing the sub-fabric A which, for purposes of illustration only,is indicated as starting with the wire of the first pair of wires, indicated in Fig. 2.

In like manner, sub-fabric B, illustrated 1n Figs. 2 and 25B, is made up of wires Il, |211, Ib,

I3b, and their repeats in the same order, and subfabric C, illustrated in Figs. 2 andZC, is made up of wires I2, lila, |3a, IIb, and their repeats in the same order.

The helices of the several connected pairs of wires are in such spaced relation as to receive between them, in nested relation, the helices of wires or other pairs. Considering they wires I0 and I I, for example, illustrated at the upper portion of Fig. 2, it will be noted that their helices present V-shaped spacing; the respective helices of this pair of wires lying in contact with each other and in parallel relation, with their respective bights in transverse alignment but laterally oiset. The bights of the wires I0, Il)a and |01, are indicated at c and c', of the respective wires; the 4bights of the wires II, IIa and IIb, are indicated at t and d', of the respective wires; the

bights of the wires I2, I2a and |219, are indicated at e and e', of the respective. wires, and the bights of the wires I3, I3a and |31, are indicated at f and f', of the respective wires; the bights c', d', e' and f', being the lowermost bights of the respective wires, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

In the present arrangement, the spacing of the helices of the respective wires is such that the helices (or parts of the helices) of four other wires, also in nested relation, may be accommodated between some part or all of the same. In this connection, particular lattention is called to the relation of the second pair of wires, indicated at I2 and I3, with respect to the rst pair of wires, indicated at I0 and I I. The wires I2 and I3 have their bights arranged in a position opposite to that of the respective bights of the wires I0 and As illustrated in Fig. 2, the bights c' of the wires I0 are interconnected with the bights f of the wires I3, whose ends are connected to a wire l2. The wire I2 of this pair, however, is not connected with either wire of the rst pair of wires, indicated at I0 and I I, but with the wire Illa of another pair directly adjacent to the rst-mentioned pair of wires, indicated at I0 and I I, and such arrangement continues throughout the extent of the fabric.

The wires of each connected pair are interconnected or separately hinged with the wires of adjacent pairs of the respective' sets of wires, in the following manner:

Wires IU engage wires |21 on one side and wires |3 on the other; wires I I engage wires |31 on one side and wires I2a on the other; wiresV I2 engage wires IIb on one side and wires Ill2L on the other;

wires I3 engage wires I3 on one side and wires 1 ||a on the other;V wires I aengage wires I2v on one side and wires I3ab on the other; Wires IIa engage wires |3 on one side and wiresl |21 on the other; wires I22L engage wires on one side and wires |31 on the other; wires I3a engage wires I |Ia on one side and wires Il! on the other; wires I3b engage wires |01 on oneside and wires on the'other.

By disposing the several wires in this relation, the fabric presents no spaces between the respective helices, andl the uniform spacing between the bights of the respective helices is very slight; resulting in the production of a closely woven structure.' y

The arrangement of the respective `'pairs `.of Wiresin the manner indicated presents 'the .ends '.of the same with theirconnected ihelicesi'n nitset relation; that is to say, the connected of .the wires I and Il; 'ma .and'fll andv 1111 and I I1, .at the left .side .of the fabric as indicated in Fig. 2, are inclined :outwardlyand downwardly and terminate adjacent to 4one face of the :fabric, while the connected -ends of the `same `vvires at .the right side .of the fabric are inclined upwardly and outwardly., and terminatek adjacent `.to the opposite face of the fahne. The connected ends of the wires vt2 and i3; Iand .13, and 12h .and 13b, `occupy an exactly opposite position, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. l

rows of .connected loights' c and e lie :in one plane `transversely of "the fabric', therows 4of connected nights-e and .df in one plane transversely of the fabric; therows .of connected bights d .and f lie in another `plane transversely .of the fabric', and the nrows of connected bights fand c liein still another Aplane transversely of the fabric,V .and `this `:relation :is .maintained .throughout `thepentire extent o1 the -fabric. The connected bights c and e' .and d and f', are longitudinally `aligned and alternate 'with the cons nested 'bights le and .d :and :and c'., :also in longitudinal alignment.

It will be clear from the :foregoing Ldescription that the improved fabric forming the subject of my invention is made up of sub-fabrics-three in vnumber-in which 'fabric A is composed of Wires 10,1.'3, 'Ha and 12b, and their repeats.;` fab- B fis made up oi WiresI ICI, l2, wb and 1.3", and their repeats, `and fabric IC 4is madenp :o Wires 2,105, |13EL and lib, and their repeats. By arranging lthe several sets of `Wires inconnec'ted pairs in the manner indicated, oliset with respect to each other, `the three .sub-fabrics-so to speakare in interconnected relation Without change of spacing and Ain a single 'ply or thickness. The spacing of `.the 'helices of fthe lseveral interconnected Wires is `uniform throughoiitthe entire extent of the 4fabric so that 'in the final condition a closely woven structure results with a substantially smooth .and perfectly even surface on yeach .side .or lface.

It will be understood, of course, that While 'I have disclosed and described a speciiic embodiment of my invention, I .do not to be limited thereby and that various modifications maybe made within the spirit 'and scope of my invention, all of which is believed to lbe included lin `the appended claims.

l; Av Wire fabric composed 4of helically coiled Wires arranged "in pairs, 'with the spirals of the wires of each pair in aligned relation and oilset laterally with respect to each other; said Wires having their ends permanently connected together and each Wire of each connected pair being in interconnected relation With a Wire of different adjacent connected pairs of Wires.

2. A Wire fabric composed of helically coiled Wires having their ends connected together and `arranged in unit pairs, with the spirals of the Wires of each pair in aligned relation and oiiset laterally with respect to each other; each Wire of each connected pair being in interconnected Vrelation with a Wire of different adjacent unit pairs of Wires.

3. A Wire fabric composed of helically coiled Wires arranged in pairs, with the spirals of the wires of each .pair .in aligned relation andgoiset laterally With respect to each other; .said Wires having their ends permanently connected together and each `Wire of each connected pair being in interconnected relation on opposite sides of the :same with 'the Wires of two different adjacent connected pairs of wires.

4.1i Wire fabric composed of helically coiled wires `havingtheir ends connected'together and arrangedl in unit pairs, with the spirals of the wires of each `pair in aligned .relation and offset laterally with respect 'to each other.; each wire of each connected pair being :in interconnected relation on opposite sides of the samewith the wires of two different adjacent unit pairs .of wires.

5. A wire fab-ric composed of `helically coiled Wires arranged `in pairs and each pair havin-g their ends rigidly'connected with the spirals of `the wires of each pair in aligned relation and offset with respect to each other and lying in the .same plane, With fone spiral .of said first pair passing'thr-ough `adjacent ofwires ciad- :lacent l.connected pairs of wires .on both sides' of the saine, and the other spiral of the first pair passing through :adjacent spirals ci `'connected pairs of Wireson bothsides of thesame Winch fdiier from the .connected pairs Whose Wires are eng-agedby the rst-named spiral. l

` 6.. A Wire .fabric;composed of helically coiled Wires Ahaving their vends connected togetherjand arranged in lunit pairs, 'with the spirals ofthe Wires of eachrunit vpair in aligned vrelation `and 4oset 'with .respect to each other and lying in the :same plane, with aspira] of the rst-named pair passing through :adjacent spirals of .other vpairs of connected Wires y'on opposite .sides .of the first-named spiral with the second spiral ot the inst-named pair passing `through the adjacent spirals of' other `unit pairs of'connected Wires opposite sides of the same; the'vvires engaged by the .second Aspiral of the first-named pair :belonging to pairs .oi connected 'wires .diftering from those `With "which the first-named spiral is engaged.

l 7."Aivire fabric composed ofihelically coiled wires arranged inpairs; With the spirals oi "the Wires of each pair in .aligned rel-ation :and offset respect to'each other and lying in .close surfaceV engagement each other .longitudinally and transversely of "the fabric; said pairs oivvires having their ends permanently `.cminected lto- .ge'th-er and each wire of 4each pair being in interconnected relation with .a Wire-.of diiierent adiacent connected pairs of vvir'es. i

8. A vvire fabric composed` ci Vlfielically vcoiled Wires having .their ends vconnected together .and arranged in A.unit pairs, with thehelices of the Wires of each pair in aligned` relation and offset 'with respect .to each other andlying `in closesur- `face engagement with leach other"longitudinally and transversely of the fabric; Veach Wire Aof Aeach connected pair being in interconnected relation with a wire of different adjacent unit pairs of Wires. 9. A fabric of helically coiled Wires made up of a plurality of sub-fabrics with their spirals in interconnected relation and all in thesame plane; the Wires of said sub-fabrics lying in nested relation and in close engagement.

l0. A fabric of helically coiled wires made up of a ,plurality of sub-fabrics with their spirals in j dividual wires of said pairs form part of different sub-fabrics.

11. A fabric of helically coiled wires comprising a plurality of sub-fabrics made up of interconnected helically coiled wires arranged in connected pairs in offset relation and in the same plane and wherein individual wires of said pairs form part of different sub-fabrics; said wires having a definite relation in groups which are repeated throughout the extent of the fabric.

12. A fabric of helically coiled'wires comprising a plurality of sub-fabrics-three in numberand each made up of helically coiled wires in interconnected relation with their ends connected in pairs and lying in the same plane; said subfabrics lying in nested relation and in close engagement and wherein they individual wires of said pairs form part of different sub-fabrics; said wires having a definite grouped relation which is repeated throughout the extent of the fabric.

13. A unit element for use in the production of wire fabric comprising a pair of helically coiled wires nested in transversely spaced relation and having their ends permanently connected together to maintain such spaced relation.

14. A unit element for use in the production of wire fabric comprising a pair of helically coiled wires disposed in nested relation with their helices in transverse alignment with respect to their length and offset with respect to each other and having their ends permanently connected together to maintain their offset spaced relation.

15. The method of making a wire fabric of helically coiled wires which comprises arranging pairs of said wires with their helices in transverse alignment with respect to their length and in offset relation; twisting the separate wires of each pair into engagement with the separate wires of other pairs disposed in the same offset relation, and connecting the ends of said wires in pairs to maintain their helices'in the offset alignedv relation with respect to each other and the wires of adjacent pairs.

16. The method of making a wire fabric of helically coiled wires which comprises arranging said wires in pairs in the same plane with their helices in transverse alignment with respect to their length and in offsetrelation; twisting said wires into engagement with the separate wires of other pairs disposed inthe same offset relation; the separate wires of each pair interconnected with the separate wires of different pairs of adjacent wires, and connecting the ends of said wires in pairs to maintain their helices in the offset aligned relation with respect to each other and the Wires of adjacent pairs. l

17. The method of making a Wire fabric of helically coiled wires which comprises arranging pairs of said wires with their helices in transverse alignment with respect to their length and in offset relation; twisting the separate wires of each pair in engagement with the separate wires tion, the helices of the respectivewires lying in close surface engagement with each other longitudinallyand transversely of the fabric, and connecting the ends of said wires in pairs to maintain. their helices inlthe offset aligned relation with respect to each other and the wires ofadjacent connected pairs.

`18. The method of making a wire fabric of helically coiledwires which comprises arranging said wires in pairs in the same plane with theirihelices intransverse alignment with respect to their length and' in offset relation; twisting the separate wires of each pair in engagement with the separate wires of adjacent pairs on each side of the first pair, the respective wires of each pair' engaging with separate wires of different adjacent pairs andthe helices of the respective wires lying in close surfaceengagement with each other longitudinally and transversely of the fabric, and connecting the ends of said wires in pairs to maintain their helices in the offset alignedv relation with respect to each other and the wires of adjacent connected pairs.

19. AThe method of making` a wire fabric of helically coiled wires disposed in grouped relation which comprises arranging pairs of said wires with their helices in transverse alignment with respect to their length and in offset relation; twisting the separate wires of each pair into engagement with the separate wires of other pairs disposed in the same offset relation to form a plurality of groups which are repeated throughout` the extent ofv thefabric, and connecting the ends of said wires in pairs to maintain their helices in the offset alignedv relation with respect to' each other' and the wires of adjacent pairs; the relation of the wires being such that a plurality of sub-fabrics `is produced which together form a fabric with closely engaging helices.

20; The method of making a wire fabric of helically coiled wires disposed in grouped relationY which comprises arranging said wires in pairs in the same plane wth their helices in trans- .verse alignment with respect to their length and in oset relation; ltwisting said wires into engagement with the separate wires of other pairs disposed in the same offset relation-to form a plurality of groups which are repeated throughout the extent of the fabric, the separate wires of each pair interconnecting with the separate wires lof different pairs of adjacent wires, and connecting the ends of said pairs of wires to maintain their helices in the offset aligned relation with respect to each other and the wires of adjacent pairs; the relation of the wiresbeing .such that Y a plurality of sub-fabrics is produced which together form a fabric with closely engaging helices.

, OTTO CARL SCHERFEL. 

